Photos of Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth

This gallery of pictures shows Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth lives up to her nickname 'Big Lizzie- - she is the largest and most powerful vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy. This awe-inspiring warship is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft. As well as state-of-the-art weaponry and communications systems, HMS Queen Elizabeth boasts five gyms, a chapel and a medical centre. When HMS Queen Elizabeth becomes operational in 2020, her ship’s company will number around 1,600 personnel which is a mix of the ships company and embarked forces including her Air Wing. Between them, this highly trained crew will have an extraordinary range of skills

A UK F-35 jet takes off from HMS Queen Elizabeth, as Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dragon watches on (Image: Royal Navy)1 of 69

An F-35 Lightning Jet on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth, with Type-45 destroyer HMS Dragon in the foreground (Image: Royal Navy)2 of 69

(Image: LPhot Kyle Heller)3 of 69

(Image: LPhot Kyle Heller)4 of 69

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Special moment - the F35 jets have landed on HMS Queen Elizabeth ready for operational testing (Image: Ministry of Defence)6 of 69

The WESTLANT 19 Carrier Strike Group units have come together for the first time on the Eastern Seaboard of the USA. HMS Northumberland joined the Strike Group today after success on Ex CUTLASS FURY in Canada. The Strike Group comprising HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Dragon, HMS Northumberland and RFA Tideforce continues to train alongside the US military, as it prepares to embark UK F-35B Lightning II fighter jets for the first time in a matter of weeks. (Image: LPhot Kyle Heller)7 of 69

Ready for action - the F35s are settling in nicely on-board HMS Queen Elizabeth (Image: Ministry of Defence)8 of 69

Leading Airman Jonny Beaumont (left) and Leading AIrman Gordon Boyd (right) on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth, as she prepares to sail to the United States for Westlant 19, where British F35s will take part in trials (Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)20 of 69

Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commanding officer and Captain of HMS Queen Elizabeth, poses for a photograph on the flight deck as the ship's crew prepare to sail to the United States for Westlant 19, where British F35s will take part in trials (Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)21 of 69

HMS Queen Elizabeth and a Wildcat helicopter (Image: Royal Navy)22 of 69

A sign for 'Ocean Drive' in a corridor on board HMS Queen Elizabeth (Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)23 of 69

CGI of Royal Marines preparing for araid and being briefed in the hangar of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the flagship of the Royal Navy. Ekranoplans are at the far end of the hangar and a Sycamore Stealth Pod is slung from the underside of the hangar ceiling.24 of 69

A sign for 'Queen Street' in a corridor on board HMS Queen Elizabeth (Image: Andrew Matthews/PA)25 of 69

The Red Arrows in Plymouth Sound, with HMS Queen Elizabeth in the background (Image: Keith Jones)32 of 69

HMS Queen Elizabeth off Plymouth (Image: @TomLeachPhoto12)33 of 69

HMS Queen Elizabeth off Plymouth (Image: @PlymCruise)34 of 69

HMS Queen Elizabeth off Plymouth (Image: @Lance_Bradley_)35 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Royal Navy crew and contract workers onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)36 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Jack Congreve onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)37 of 69

At least one Chinook was seen ferrying supples between the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (Image: Nathan Daniel Nathyd)38 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Royal Navy uniform placed on a bed onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)39 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Jack Congreve onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)40 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Royal Navy crew prepare meals onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)41 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Contract workers stand beside HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)42 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Bosuns mate Scott Campbell,onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)43 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Royal Navy crew inside the operations roomonboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)44 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Royal Navy crew inside the operations roomonboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)45 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Commanding Officer Captain Jerry Kyd onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)46 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Royal Navy crew prepare meals onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)47 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Royal Navy crew and contract workers onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)48 of 69

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 21: Royal Navy crew prepare meals onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at Rosyth Dockyard on June 21, 2017 in Rosyth,Scotland.HMS Queen Elizabeth, the First of Class Aircraft Carrier, is scheduled to undertake sea trials this summer. This milestone will mark significant progress in delivering HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful surface warship ever built for the Royal Navy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)49 of 69

Crew stand on the decks of the 65,000-tonne British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth on the Firth of Forth in east Scotland, on June 26, 2016, as tug boats escorted it out of its berth in Rosyth Naval dockyard to begin sea trials.
The 65,000-tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth is one of two carriers being built at a combined cost of £6.2 billion ($10.6 billion, 7.8 billion euros) to overhaul Britain's naval capabilities. The ship measures 280 metres (920 feet) long -- the equivalent of 28 London buses or nearly three times the length of Buckingham Palace -- and 56 metres from keel to masthead. / AFP PHOTO / Andy Buchanan (Photo credit should read ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/Getty Images)50 of 69

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: (STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 GMT ON DECEMBER 07, 2017) Last minute preperations are made aboard the UK's latest aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth on December 5, 2017 in Portsmouth, England. The Queen will formally commission the 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier, which is planned to be in service by 2020, into the Royal Navy fleet on Thursday. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)51 of 69

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: (STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 GMT ON DECEMBER 07, 2017) Last minute preperations are made aboard the UK's latest aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth on December 5, 2017 in Portsmouth, England. The Queen will formally commission the 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier, which is planned to be in service by 2020, into the Royal Navy fleet on Thursday. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)52 of 69

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: (STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 GMT ON DECEMBER 07, 2017) Supplies are loaded onto the UK's latest aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth on December 5, 2017 in Portsmouth, England. The Queen will formally commission the 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier, which is planned to be in service by 2020, into the Royal Navy fleet on Thursday. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)53 of 69

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L) arrives to attend the Commissioning Ceremony for the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth at HM Naval Base in Portsmouth, southern England on December 7, 2017. Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, attended the Commissioning Ceremony of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest warship ever built for the Royal Navy. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Chris Jackson (Photo credit should read CHRIS JACKSON/AFP/Getty Images)54 of 69